i got suckered (fuckered) into playing GAMMA and while it was fun and immersive the load times got so bad after 30ish hours of playing that i was spending more time in loading screens than in the game. this seems to be expected behavior of the mod based on tech support convos in the gamma discord. if the jank doesnt fuck you up this is stalking pleasure but its definitely worth playing the original games (or even just call of pripyat) before playing an overhaul like anomaly/gamma
A fantastic mod for a fantastic game, with the option to install more fantastic mods on top of the mod. Stalker anomaly has successfully brought in new fans to the series and essentially helped build up hype for stalker 2. It’s an amazing survival shooter with complex mechanics and horrifying encounters with mutants and other stalkers.
despite some bloated systems and (potentially) shitty mod installations, the atmosphere and scale of this game never cease to make it way worth it. It’s also just the best way to play stalker
Incrivel como conseguiram fazer um jogo parecer tão novo mas ter uma jogabilidade pior que a dos antigos
Though this is a much more noble attempt to fix the wrongs of the original devs, it still feels like I'm missing out on something here. Like am I just playing a different game from everyone else or is this really just a "follow the mission marker, find out you can't access the area, walk into an anomaly, die to a status effect you can't find in the HUD guide menu?"
Like, I enjoy difficult design if there's a purpose to it, but these games still feel kind of more like "wander around til you're bored" mixed with "the menus and items are as inaccessible as possible because uh that makes it feel deep?"
Edit: I gave it another chance and played a few more hours, all of which were spent stumbling into an anomaly hidden in a bush then reloading my save only to turn around and wander into another anomaly hidden in another bush, only to reload and to get one-shotted by a group of mutants who had wandered into the main road and snuck up behind me. It feels more often like the game doesn't want to reward exploration, which totally devalues the entire formula.
Like, I enjoy difficult design if there's a purpose to it, but these games still feel kind of more like "wander around til you're bored" mixed with "the menus and items are as inaccessible as possible because uh that makes it feel deep?"
Edit: I gave it another chance and played a few more hours, all of which were spent stumbling into an anomaly hidden in a bush then reloading my save only to turn around and wander into another anomaly hidden in another bush, only to reload and to get one-shotted by a group of mutants who had wandered into the main road and snuck up behind me. It feels more often like the game doesn't want to reward exploration, which totally devalues the entire formula.
The definitive way to play Stalker in 2022.
This game is basically a bed for mods, you can have some of the most immersive and anti-immersive mods at the same time, ultra realistic shaders, upgraded and better guns, anime shid, basically anything, one of the best shooter games out there imo.
It does crash a lot depending on your graphics settings and how many mods you have tho.
It does crash a lot depending on your graphics settings and how many mods you have tho.
The current Freeplay mod with a load of addons and a large community following.
Everyone says Anomaly is "the definitive stalker experience" and I agree with that. But the caveat they forget to mention is that Anomaly is not exactly new player-friendly. It is mostly for people already familiar with the universe set by the originals, for players that seek an ultimate customizable sandbox, one that can create their individual vision of what a "definitive experience" should look like.
So if you have the patience to mod Anomaly and tweak every little setting to fit your view of what a perfect stalker game should be, then yes, it is wonderful.
If you got directed to Anomaly by some rando on twitter and are new to the series, just want to see what's up before Stalker 2 hits, I recommend sticking with the originals.
Only delve into Anomaly (and other mods) once you start to feel the OGs are not enough to satisfy your desire to wander the Zone. Once you start to have thoughts like "wouldn't it be cool if..."
So if you have the patience to mod Anomaly and tweak every little setting to fit your view of what a perfect stalker game should be, then yes, it is wonderful.
If you got directed to Anomaly by some rando on twitter and are new to the series, just want to see what's up before Stalker 2 hits, I recommend sticking with the originals.
Only delve into Anomaly (and other mods) once you start to feel the OGs are not enough to satisfy your desire to wander the Zone. Once you start to have thoughts like "wouldn't it be cool if..."
Stalker Anomaly is the definitive Stalker experience: for all the flaws the mainstream titles have, Stalker Anomaly ameliorates and fully immerses the player in the atmosphere & survival experience the Stalker series is known for. If you don't want to play through the three main games, Stalker Anomaly delivers everything they have to offer & more.